Breast Cancer fire truck comes to town

Photo: Lindsay Olivier
On Tuesday morning, the “Cares Enough to Wear Pink: Guardians of the Ribbon” fire truck made a stop at North Kingstown Fire Station 1

NORTH KINGSTOWN –According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in eight women in the United States will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime. This year alone, an estimated 207,090 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed. October is breast cancer awareness month and members of the North Kingstown Fire Fighters Association have been doing their part in the fight against cancer by wearing pink uniform shirts this past week. On Tuesday morning, the “Cares Enough to Wear Pink: Guardians of the Ribbon” fire truck made a stop at North Kingstown Fire Station 1, where cancer survivors and locals could sign their names on the truck and meet the men who have been leading the Pink Heals Tour statewide. The truck has traveled all over the state from Oct. 25 till 29, stopping at all the fire departments that participated in the campaign. The Rhode Island Chapter began in 2009 when President of the Rhode Island Chapter and Central Coventry Fire Fighter Ted Dion’s mother, Jackie, was diagnosed with cancer for the fourth time. It started with his fellow firefighters wearing pink shirts during the month of October. In March, Dion came before the Rhode Island State Association of Fire Chiefs to ask for their support in having the state participate in the “Cares Enough to Wear Pink” campaign. A month later, he went before the Rhode Island State Association of Firefighters, to again ask for their support and on May 20, the Rhode Island State Association of Firefighters officially adopted the campaign. Coventry Fire Chief Russel Labbadia donated the 1980 fire truck. Once it was painted pink, Dion’s mother was the first to sign it. “This isn’t a breast cancer truck. It’s a truck to bring awareness to all cancers,” added Dion. The truck is now adorned with thousands of signatures and messages in memory of loved ones and survivors. This is the only truck in the state and the national tour has 30. One of the national trucks has been touring for four years and people are still finding space for messages. “It’s in our nature to fight for those who have lost the ability to fight for themselves and we ask the citizens for support. It will not only help with community awareness, but also give those who are battling this disease an overwhelming feeling of hope and support,” said North Kingstown Engine Lt. Steven St. Pierre. For more information on the Rhode Island Chapter of the Pink Heals, visit www.ripinktrucks.com[3].